Multiple lamp sockets, switch, and housing



R. POPP 2,799,743

MULTIPLE; LAMP SOCKETS, SWITCH AND HOUSING July 16,1957

Filed June 29, 1955 Z INVENTOR.

United States Patent MULTIPLE LAMP SOCKETS, SWITCH, AN D HOUSING Rudolf Popp, Valparaiso, Ind., assignor to McGill Manufacturing Co., Inc., Valparaiso, Ind., a corporation of Indiana;

Application June29 1955', SerialNo. 518,841

4 Claims; (Cl. Nil-51.03)

This invention relates to electric. lamp sockets and more particularly to an improved form of multiple socket, socket housing and control switch-apparatus for selective energization of. two associated light bulbs.

In order to meet various illumination requirements, it is frequently advantageous. to have an electric lamp. wherein the. amount of light furnished thereby. can be varied by simply operatingthe lamp switch. This is sometimes accomplished by utilizing a multifilament bulb and switch means. to. selectively energize combinations of the filaments. Regulation of the illumination level of a lamp may also be obtained by the. use of a plurality of light bulbs and switching apparatus to energize certain combinations of such bulbs, However,..some.of.the prior art lamp clusters, or. combinations of. light. bulbs, have been ofrather complicated construction and have required complex. interconnecting, structure between the bulb sockets and the. control switch. Of course, the more components and. the more. complexity in acluster and switch device the greater. is the fabricating expense and the possibility of failure. through use. Furthermore, many switch and. socket combinations presently; known arenot capable of being wired in a simple manner into a circuit, and. then mounted on a support or fixture, and they frequently necessitate. an awkward reassembling job of the several components to put the. device in condition for operation of the. circuit.

Accordingly, it is. an objectot: the present invention to provide a. multiple socket and switch and housingtherefor of simple and. inexpensive construction both from the standpoint of the manufacture. of the. components, and from the standpoint of the ease of complete assembly.

It is, also an object to. provide a-multiplesocket and control switch requiring but. few component'parts' which are of durable constructionand; which may be used. in fabricating other. typesof switch and socket combinations;

Another object is; to provide. a control: switch and multi socket device which is easily wi-redinto a circuit and installed'in a simple protective. housing.

A feature of the invention is. the provision of an improved, switch and multisocket. combination including a pair of bulb-supporting screw type: shells secured. to opposite sides: of'aswitch. housing and center contacts for the; bulbsdisposedin the shells. The contacts perform. adouble. function. as part. of the switch housing and,,. with extended. portions,.as stationary contacts fot the switch.

Another feature of the. inventionis. the: provision of a. pair of screw type. shellsfor. electric-lamps supported in diametrically opposing. positions by insulator plates between which a. switch is disposed. Electrically connected extensionsof the shells. formone power' terminal of theunihand an extension of a contact of the switch forms. another terminal.

Another feature is the provision of such a multiple socket. and. switch and a pairof identical housing. portions which may be disposed in juxtaposition. about. the sockets and-switch and retained in fixed relation byre- 2 tainer rings. Tapped apertures. in. the housing portions are used to carry necessary wiring and a support post for the'unit;

Further objects, features and the attending. advantages thereof may be seen by consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the. accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is. a perspective. view ofthe complete switch and socket device mounted on. a support;

Fig, 2. is. a. plan-view of the device with the. top half of the housing as-shown in Fig. I removed;

Fig. 2a is a view of. the inside of the housing portion of Fig. 2, with theswitch. and lamp socket assembly re moved;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the. complete device with the lower half or portion ofthe housing as viewed in Fig. 1, removed;

Figs. 4' and 5' are plan views of the switch. and socket device assembly alone taken out of Fig. 2, and witha portion. of thejswitch exposed; and

Figs. 6. and 7 are plan views of the assembly of'Figs. 4 and 5. omitting. the actuating mechanism for clarity, but with the rotary contact in different switching positions.

This. invention providesa dual socket and controlswitch for selectively. energizing light bulbs contained.- in the sockets. Screw type shells for the bulbs: are securedto spaced insulatingv plates between which is disposeda switch mechanism. Spacers. for theinsulating, plates also form center contacts. within. each screw shell for can neetion to base center contacts of abulb. Extensions of these spacers form; stationary contacts for the switch mechanism. A. further spacer for the-plates, and. an extension. thereof which engages the switch as a contact, constitutes. a first power terminal, while an interconnection. between the: screw shells, forms a second power terminab Operation of associated switch actuating means extending outwardly from the insulating plates' connects or disconnects, combinations. of the center contacts oi the bulbs to energize either bulb singly or to energize or de-energize both. bulbsttogether. The duat socket; and switchis enclosedv by two. identical housing members with screw type, retainer rings holding the same in fixed relation at. the ends, thereof. An aperture in, a member provides access for Wi-ringand. support of the entire device; In Fig. 1 thereis. shown the. switchand-socket device It) in the sockets ofwhich light bulbs 12 and 14 are supported.- The-housing of device 10 comprises a pair of identical housing members 16, 11 whichare. fastened together by means of threaded retainer rings 18,-. 19 at the ends thereof. Each of the identical housingmenrbers has a threaded aperture in the side'thereof such; as aperture 20 shown in member 16; Aperture 20 may retain a suitable stud -24 to. support a lamp shade orthe like, while the support post 22 for the unitextends into aperture 21in the member 17 (Fig. 2a.) in order to pro vide mounting for the complete unit as well as a conduit for theline cord, 23 which-is for supplying power to the bulbs. The post 22' screws into the threadsin the aperture 21' as, is evident from the illustration of the c.orr.e-. spondi'ng aperture. 20in the member 16-. Housing mem bers Hand 17 also include open portions forming; to? gether. an aperture 2.7 through which switch actuator 3.0 extends.

Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the device 10 with-housing member 16'- removed.. This View shows retainer ring 18 in section and a, pair of screw type shells. 35, 36 secured to spaced. insulating plates 38, 3il (plate 39 being hidden by plate 38).. A power terminal 40 isv provided as an extensionof, the spacer 42.-which supports the/ insulating plates 38 39'. An enlarged portion. 43. of .the

, member 17" adjacent spacer 42 provides space'for a wire connection to terminal 46. Fig. 2a shows ledges 41 for supporting the switch and socket apparatus and it is understood that both housing portions 16 and 17 support the apparatus in this manner.

Fig. 3 is a view of the apparatus with the member 17 removed, and showing the assembly turned 180 from the position of Fig. 2. Here, it may be seen that extensions of brackets 45 and 46 are joined together by a connector 48 thus forming a second power terminal. The brackets 45 and 4 6 are secured respectively to screw shells 35 and 36 and these brackets fasten the screw shells to the insulating plates 38, 39 by means of the lug portions 49 engaging recesses in the insulating plates.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the switch and socket apparatus is shown with insulating plate 38 removed. Spacers 42, t) and 51, have lugs 53 which extend through apertures in the insulating plates and are upset to hold plates 38, 39 in fixed relation. Spacers 50, 51 also have projecting portions such as contact 55 of spacer 50 which is disposed in, or projects into, shell 35 and serves as a contact for a centrally located terminal of a lamp bulb. Suitable insulating material 56 may also be provided between spacers 50 and 51 in order to prevent short circuiting of shell 35 or its bracket 45 to the spacer 50 or shorting of shell 36 and its associated bracket 46 to the spacer 51.

To avoid any confusion in following the several switch parts in this description, the rotary switch mechanism illustrated similarly in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive will be particularly described in Fig. 5. It is noted however, that the rotary connecting or contact wheel 60 is in a different switching position in each figure, Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive. The switch mechanism includes the rotatable connecting Wheel 60 with actuator ratchet 62 supported between the insulating plates 38, 39. The periphery of -connector wheel 66 consists of eight teeth, six of which are electrically connected by means of a conducting member 65 so that there are two sets of three electrically conducting teeth which are spaced by a pair of insulated teeth. Stationary contacts which engage the teeth of conector wheel 60 are formed by the spring members 67, 68 and 69 which are extensions of spacer members 42, 50 and 51, respectively.

Line cord 22 is connected to terminal 40 and connector 48 and a circuit may be established through screw shells 35 and 36 and the base of bulbs supported in such shells. This circuit may then be completed through base center terminals of either or both bulbs, as connector wheel 60 electrically joins spacers 50 and/or 51 with member 67.

Selective energization of the bulbs 12 and 14 is illustrated through the various switch positions shown in the drawings. The condition shown in Fig. 4 is one in which the bulb carried in shell 35 would be unenergized while the one in shell 36 would be energized. This is apparent by consideration of the fact that conductor 65 of connector wheel 60 is shown electrically joining members 67 and 69 to supply power to the center terminal of a bulb in shell 36, while member 68 is in contact with an insulated tooth of connector wheel 60 so that the electrical circuit is not completed for a bulb in shell 35. Fig. 5 shows a further step of rotation of connector wheel 60 and in this position the circuit will be completed between members 67 and 68 to energize only a bulb in shell 35 and a bulb retained in shell 36 would not be energized since member 69 is in engagement with an insulated tooth of wheel 66.

Fig. 6 on the other hand illustrates a further rotation of the connector wheel, and in this position the member 67 is engaging an insulated tooth of the wheel 65) so that no power is supplied to either bulb. Another step of rotation of the connector wheel would establish a complete circuit to each bulb as shown in Fig. 7. Here it' is apparent that connector 65 couples together members 6769 so that the circuit is completed through l terminal 46 to the base center terminals of bulbs in each screw shell.

Referring to Fig. 5, the mechanism for causing rotation of connector wheel 60 will be described. Switch frame 76 is secured to insulating plates 38, 39 by upset lugs such as used for spacers 42, 50 and 51. A U-shaped member 72 is slidably mounted within frame 76 and one arm of member 72 has a hooked portion which engages actuator ratchet 62 upon slidable movement of member 76 to cause rotation of the connector wheel 6%). Pull chain 73 is secured to member 74 in linking engagement so that this joint is flexible. Member 74 has an enlarged end portion which secures it to the U-shaped member 72. A spring 76 engaging frame '70 and U- shaped member 72 biases member 72 in a direction outwardly from frame 70, and a collar 78 secured to pull chain '73 restricts the spring biasing action by engaging switch frame 70. It may be noted that tension on chain 73 along a line directly away from the device would move member 72 against the spring 76 and cause rotation of connector wheel 6% as the hooked portion engages ratchet 62. It may also be seen that tension upon chain 73 at other angles would cause collar 78 to break away from frame 70 at one point while the collar would pivot against the frame at another point, thereby again moving U-shaped member 72 and causing rotation of ratchet 62. It should be apparent that other types of mechanisms may be used to cause rotation of the connector wheel and that the described mechanism is merely illustrative.

The embodiment of the invention is shown and described in a simple structure requiring relatively few component parts. The components could be used in a switch and single socket combination by omitting certain parts and modifying the switch connector wheel thus providing a broader use for the identical components of this invention. The housing is formed of identical portions which, when mated so that the open portions therein form aperture 27 for the switch actuator, present matched threads for the retainer rings. This greatly simplifies the assembly of the complete device. It should also be apparent that wiring of the unit into a circuit is not diflicult since it is merely necessary to attach power leads to the two terminals, position the unitary device in its housing, and secure the retaining rings to complete the installation. .Thererfore, this invention provides a highly satisfactory combination control switch and multi-socket device.

I claim:

1. Switch and socket apparatus for a plurality of electric light bulbs each bulb having a base peripheral and a base center contact, including in combination, a pair of insulating plates supported in spaced relation, a pair of identical screw shells secured to said plates extending in opposite directions therefrom, switch meansincluding a rotary contact making member disposed between said plates and rotatably mounted thereon, actuating means for operating said switch means, two identical housing sections for containing said switch and socket apparatus with access to said screw shells, each of said sections having an aperture for power supply means and threaded portions on the ends thereof and an aperture portion for said actuating means, retainer rings adapted to secure said housing sections in fixed relation by engagement with said threaded portions when said aperture portions are adjacent one another with said actuating means extending therethrough, terminal means for supplying electric power to said screw shells and to said rotary contact making member, and a pair of stationary contact means having portions adjacent said screw shells and portions thereof engaging said rotary contact making member so that the base peripheral and base center contacts of a bulb may engage one of said screw shells and one of said stationary contact means respectively and operation of said contact making member may supply power to the bulb.

2. An electric switch and socket device for a plurality of light bulbs of the type having a base peripheral and a base center contact, said device including in combination, a pair of similar insulating plates, a pair of similar screw shells secured to said plates in opposing positions, a plurality of electrically conductive spacers for said plates including a first spacer with a portion on one side of said insulating plates comprising a first power supply terminal, second and third ones of said spacers having contacts projecting into said screw shells for engaging the base center contacts of bulbs contained therein, switch connector means rotatably disposed between said plates and having conductor and non-conductor sections about a toothed periphery thereof, a plurality of spring contacts each connected to one of said spacers and adapted to engage the periphery of said switch connector means, a second power supply terminal coupled to said screw shells and disposed on the other side of said insulating plates, and actuating means to cause rotation of said connector means so that various positions of said connector means will couple combinations of said first spacer and the base center contacts of bulbs disposed in said screw shells for energizing the bulbs.

3. Switch and socket apparatus for a pair of electric light bulbs each bulb having a base peripheral and a base center contact, including in combination two identical housing sections for containing said switch and socket apparatus, each of said sections having an aperture for power supply means, threaded portions on the ends thereof, aperture portions forming an opening when the sections are mounted in juxtaposition, and ledge sections within said housing sections, retainer rings adapted to secure said housing sections in fixed relation by engagement with said threaded portions, switch and socket mechanism disposed on said ledge sections and including a pair of insulating plates supported in spaced relation, a pair of identical screw shells secured to said plates extending in opposite directions therefrom, switch means including a contact making member supported by said plates, actuating means for operating said switch means and adapted to extend through said opening terminal I means for supplying electric power to said screw shells and to said contact making member, and a pair of sta tionary contact means having portions extending into said screw shells and portions thereof engaging said contact making member so that the base peripheral and base center contacts of a bulb may engage one of said screw shells and one of said stationary contact means respectively and operations of said contact making member may supply power to the bulb.

4. Switch and socket apparatus for a pair of electric light bulbs including in combination, a switch having actuating means extending therefrom and a pair of screw shells assembled to said switch and extending in opposite directions therefrom for supporting the bulbs, a pair of mating housing sections for containing said switch and permitting access to said screw shells, one of said housing sections having an aperture to receive power supply means for said switch and screw shells, said housing sections also having a length at least as great as the length of the assembly of said screw shells and said switch and having positioning portions therein to position and retain said switch and said screw shells when the housing sections are assembled together, said housing sections further having a common opening therein with said actuating means extending therethrough, and a pair of retaining rings with each of said rings encircling a corresponding outer end of each of said housing sections to maintain the housing sections in assembled condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,107,120 Seeley Aug. 11, 1914 2,068,701 Popp Jan. 26, 1937 2,068,930 Popp Ian. 26, 1937 

